Monday, May 16, 2011

UPDATE: This post was originally published on Thursday, May 12, and disappeared due to an issue with Blogger that affected content we posted at the end of last week. Because of the glitch, we are extending the Film Festival contest deadline to Monday, May 23.

Please note, if you left a comment on this blog post last Thursday, you do not need to re-enter the contest. We have a record of your entries. If you didn't have a chance to enter before the Blogger outage, please review the rules and enter the contest below. Good luck!

June 20 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Jack Nicholson leads a character-filled revolt against the evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) at a mental facility. Directed with a sly smile by Milos Forman and based on the Ken Kesey novel, it is only the second film to win the top five Oscars. (1975, Saul Zaentz Co.)

June 27 THE 39 STEPS
Hitchcock’s early British masterpiece thriller stars Robert Donat as the resourceful man wrongfully suspected of a murder. While on the run, he gets involved with spies, a beautiful woman, and a music hall performer named Mr. Memory. Special thanks to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts [BAFTA New York]. (1935, MGM)

July 4 EASY RIDER
The iconic road trip film features Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as bikers traveling from LA to New Orleans in search of America, a great rock soundtrack, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Laszlo Kovacs’ perfect cinematography on location. (1969, Sony/Columbia)

July 11 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
Bombshell Marilyn Monroe is gold digging (Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend) and gorgeous Jane Russell is looking for love (Anyone Here For Love?) on a ship to Paris in Howard Hawks’ sparkling, witty, and colorful musical comedy. (1953, Fox)

July 18 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger are magnificent as a Philadelphia detective and a bigoted sheriff who work together to solve a complex murder in Mississippi. Earning the Oscar for Best Picture, the film was directed by Norman Jewison and features music by Quincy Jones and Ray Charles. (1967, MGM)

July 25 THE LADY EVE
Barbara Stanwyck is in peak form as a con artist who sets her sights on a clueless brewery heir, played hilariously by Henry Fonda. With sophisticated dialogue, masterful direction by Preston Sturges, and an outstanding supporting cast, this is one of the greatest comedies on film. (1941, Universal)

August 1 COOL HAND LUKE
Paul Newman plays Luke, who is serving time on a chain gang and refuses to buckle under authority. George Kennedy provides Oscar-winning support, and Strother Martin is the sadistic guard who utters the immortal line “What we’ve got here…is a failure to communicate.” (1967, Warner)

August 8 AIRPLANE!
From the team who created The Naked Gun, this fast moving crazy comedy features Leslie (“Don’t call me Shirley”) Nielsen, Robert Stack, and Robert Hays who play it straight while the audience can’t stop laughing. Cameos by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ethel Merman, and Barbara Billingsley. (1980, Paramount)

August 15 HIGH SIERRA
Humphrey Bogart became a star in this momentous gangster movie, which started the world’s obsession with film noir. Bogie is a doomed ex-con killer on the lam with a heart of gold and Ida Lupino is his moll. Deftly directed by Raoul Walsh and masterly co-written by John Huston. (1941, Warner)

August 22 DIRTY HARRY
Clint Eastwood is San Francisco Police Inspector Harry Callahan, who has little regard for rules but always gets results. On the hunt for a maniacal serial sniper, he uses his trademark intimidation and .44 Magnum handgun. Feeling lucky? (1971, Warner)

Film Festival Kick Off Contest

Now that you’ve checked out the line-up, enter to win one of three Film Festival prize packages featuring

Pair of reserved seats at the movie of your choice in the park, and

Tote bag of HBO-themed swag including one of the following DVD sets:

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Seasons 1 – 7

Entourage: Seasons 1 – 6

True Blood: Seasons 1 & 2

To enter, leave a comment here and tell us which film you’re most excited to see at the park this summer. For extra entries do one or both of the following and tell us about it in your comment below:

Liked BP on Facebook, tweeted at you twice this morning- the summer film series is my FAVORITE activity in the city over summer! I'm most excited to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes...or Airplane!...or Dirty Harry...Such a great lineup, do I have to pick just one?!

My mother is a huge fan of In the Heat of the Night and she's always complaining that I don't spend enough time with her. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. This should get me daughter brownie points at least until next Mother's day. Sweet!

I'm excited to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It's classic Jack Nicholson. He is one of my favorite actors and I'm disappointed I have never seen it before. It will be amazing in the park though.

I'm really looking forward to Airplane! It's cool to see the 80's have moved into the selections, and this is a great one! Hilarious Cameos, Classic Lloyd Bridges,and a chance to see Leslie Neilson (May he Rest In Peace). Looks like a picked the wrong week to quit ___.

I'm looking forward to FINALLY seeing "Cool Hand Luke." I first heard of the movie while reading "The Outsiders" ... 10 years ago. It's about time I got around to watching it. "39 Steps" should be a good one as well!

Hmm.... it's a tough choice but I'll go with Airplane! In a close second, Cool Hand Luke. But as always, I enjoy all of the BP movies. Best way to be introduced to "new to me" classics or to enjoy old favorites.

I'm definitely excited to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...I've never seen it, and what better time/place then Bryant Park Film Festival! Also, I'm looking forward to seeing Airplane!, since it's one of my favorite movies and I'd love to see it on a big screen.

Although I have seen Hitch's "The 39 Steps" numerous times, and have a copy of it in my collection, it is one of his best watchable films. The perfect mix of suspense, and humor, shows where he was going with his career. A few years letter he did "Saboteur" which had many elements of "The 39 Steps"

My favorite movie of all time ... One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I think I may be able to recite the entire thing by heart I've seen it so many times! Would love to see it on the big screen! Thanks!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for those reserved seats!!! THAT would be very cool ... although I do love squeezing in with the crowd and meeting new people too!

So, since I liked you guys on Facebook, I get another entry? I pick for my second choice Cool Hand Luke. I love Paul Newman and one of my go-to quotes is of course, "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

I liked on facebook (and wish I had done so sooner, as there's so much good information there). I'm most interested in High Sierra. I've not seen it yet, and I both enjoy Humphrey Bogart's acting and film noire, so I think it will be a good combination. Looking forward to checking out the other films also.

What a strong line-up this year...it's a close call between DIRTY HARRY and AIRPLANE!, but AIRPLANE! wins out as the one to be most excited for. Thanks! Just added you on Facebook. We look forward to seeing Alice at the Lawn Rush on June 20th!

I'm really excited to see Cool Hand Luke. Paul Newman is my favorite actor of all time and I would love to see one of his movies up on the big screen, the way movies are meant to be seen. Add in the fact that the movie is outdoors in Bryant Park, you are basked by the night sky, and surrounded by the beautiful NYC skyscrapers--it just doesn't get much better than that! It would be a perfect night! (I also liked you guys on FB and am following on twitter).

Easy Rider. The movie really does a great job in capturing life during that unique period of time in history. Peter Fonda was amazing in the film. The soundtrack was solid, and could easily be the musical backdrop to many who lived thru this period.

Excited that you have the old classics this summer at the festival...cannot wait to see these classics at the park when it is nice outside...love to see favorites like Dirty Harry again...love going to the festival every year, good job guys...keep up the good work...

I am so excited to see "ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST" Jack Nicholsan is always great and this is movie is no exception! I'd love to score reserved seats for that or any movie in Bryant Park, one of my favorite and most frequented Parks in the city!

I'm so excited that DIRTY HARRY is in this year's line up. It's about time this festival include a gritty film like this and recognize Clint Eastwood for his genius outside of the recent Oscar winning pictures he's done in the last few years. I can only hope that SUDDEN IMPACT will be next. Also, ENTER THE DRAGON would be nice too some year.

First off, I'm just excited to be in the city for the movie festival this year-I moved to New York right after it ended last summer so I'm looking forward to experiencing this-Bryant Park is my favorite park in the city.

I'm most looking forward to Airplane or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes--cinemaphile that I am, I've never seen Airplane and my friend Chris thinks this is a travesty.

Anyway...I followed you on twitter c_isky and on Facebook (Cristina I....)

I'm from Australia and I will be in the USA for all of July, but I am only in NYC for the week of July 4th, and it would be amazing to see the definitive 'American' film, Easy Rider, on the 4th of July. Being in the heart of Manhattan, surrounded by friendly folk all watching the film, and then watching the fireworks afterwards would be, in my opinion, the perfect way for a traveller to experience America's Holiday.

I just liked you on facebook. I am completely cool with any tickets but I am a huge fan of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest! Fabulous! Happy movie watching. So excited for Monday nights to get here. One of my favorite NYC traditions!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is LITERALLY my favorite movie of all time-- I LOVE the Bryant Park Film Festival! Following you on twitter (@lucylless) and Facebook (Lucy Loveless) and can't wait for this summer!

Oh, the choices...! Do I sign up for Dirty Harry's cat and mouse game, or for the by jealousy driven Lady Eve Sidwich? Will I giggle at the endless hilarity of Airplane! or will I let myself be swooned on a warm summer night by the timeless songs in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? Some choices are just too hard to make!But in the end I think no movie pairs up as magnificently with the lush green Bryant Park lawn on a summer night as One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. To this date it's one of my favorite movies, and without a doubt the best way to start this year's races to a spot on the lawn.

So many to pick from!!! Cuckoo's Nest! I just saw a clip on Oprah. Had no idea Michael Douglas produced and said to myself, I can't believe I've never seen this! Would also love Airplane and Gentleman Prefer Blondes. :-) Just sayin.....

Bravo on the selection! Now choosing one? "oh no. What you represent (HBO) is freedom"! "Shirley" it is impossible to choose among these, but if it's between that or a lobotomy I guess I'll make a choice "Nurse Ratched"! "the 39 Steps? What is that, a pub?" That's not my fav! And to choose between Marilyn, Poitier, Stanwyck, Newman, Bogart & Eastwood is just criminal! So I'm gonna stick with my original urge and go with 'Airplane!' great series!

i can't wait to have a totally american July 4 by watching EASY RIDER in the park. it's a snapshot of 1969, the year i was born. i like it because the music, acting and photography are just sublime. i also feel when i watch it i get a vibe of what it was like to be my birthmother carrying her first child knowing she would be forced to give it (me) up for adoption when i was born right before christmas 1969. what a year that was, especially with the moon landing that year. to be it's a time capsule of an era of free-thinking, idealism and other so-called "hippie" ideals that seem so counter to all the nasty, negative, harmful, toxic republican crap going on today. what a film. what a year. and yes, what a city manhattan was...and is!The iconic road trip film features Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as bikers traveling from LA to New Orleans in search of America, a great rock soundtrack, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Laszlo Kovacs’ perfect cinematography on location. (1969, Sony/Columbia)

Because of my schedule, my first choice is One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest. (I may be out of town of In The Heat of The Night, which would have been first.) :( Thanks for offering such a fun way to watch good films!!

I'm excited to see all of them - the only movie on the list that I've seen is Airplane! which is pretty fantastic. I think the one I'm looking forward to most is Cool Hand Luke, I can't wait to see Paul Newman breakin some rules.

Im looking forward to The 39 Steps...I own all but 4 Hitchcock Films, So I have watched The 39 Steps several times...Its not so much about going to see it again.. Its Honoring whom I consider the Greatest film maker of all time...His Genius can be seen in every film. God Bless America and NYC that we can sit in a Park in Midtown Manhattan and Love, Laugh and Cry!

Im looking forward to The 39 Steps...I own all but 4 Hitchcock Films, So I have watched The 39 Steps several times...Its not so much about going to see it again.. Its Honoring whom I consider the Greatest film maker of all time...His Genius can be seen in every film. God Bless America and NYC that we can sit in a Park in Midtown Manhattan and Love, Laugh and Cry!

Ooops! I so totally missed the gist of this contest and mentioned a movie that is not on the list!!! I would love to see "Gentlemen prefer Blondes" I have never seen a movie with Marilyn Monroe but have heard a lot about this one!

I am most excited about seeing "Airplane!" in Bryant Park and hope to win reserved seats for it. FYI I also liked you and am now following you on Twitter-- thank you so much for the two additional entries!

This movie was so the kind of movie that my dad loves and would watch with us (more than once) when I was growing up. (Other movies that my dad loved to play for us/quote from: Naked Gun, Hot Shots!, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.) Thinking of this movie reminds me of being a kid again! And also makes me want to call up my dad to thank him for creating such fun moments for me and my sisters.

Seriously? "Airplane" 'Cause it's anything but serious. Every time I watch it it gets funnier. If it played every Monday, I would probably line up every Monday to laugh again. But, seriously, I'm ok with sharing the film and the park with a few hundred people laughing along with me.

Bryant Park always has the best summer movie line-up! Three cheers that you included The Lady Eve this year. Preston Sturges films are so goofy and fun, and it will be great to lay back in the grass and enjoy.